Magnitogorsk Dismantles Riga Using the Powerplay

(Sorry for the delayed recap, "afternoon" games throw off my schedule)

The Matchup:

Metallurg 

Magnitogorsk 

(9-0-4-3)

vs

Dynamo

Riga

(3-3-2-10)

Players You May Recognize

Viktor Ignatjev (assistant coach), Rob Schremp, Alexandre Giroux, Raitis Ivanans, Kaspars Daugavins

Recap

This really shouldn't have been a close game as Magnitogorsk visited last place Dynamo Riga, located in Latvia.  Shoddy defense and a very tightly called game kept the teams close though, ultimately helping Metallurg earn the 5-2 victory in the end after a shaky start.

Maybe Paul Maurice should hide his game plan better.

Despite a dismal record of 3-3-2-10, Riga's crowd was jubilant from the start and thought they had a reason to be when Riga appeared to take the lead less than a minute into the game.  The goal would be waived off because the puck last touched a player's hand, but Riga would score 3 minutes later anyways to take a 1-0 lead.  In a major defensive lapse, Magnitogorsk was caught pinching heavily in the offensive zone, leading to a 3 on 1 the other way where Sergei Gonchar was the only defenseman.  Gonchar played the cross-crease pass perfectly, but was helpless as the 3rd man in, Andris Dzherinsh, received the puck and flipped it over an outstretched Ari Ahonen in net.

Shortly thereafter, the tone of the game changed completely as penalty after penalty was called (a total of 24 in the game) and the pace died off altogether.  Magnitogorsk took advantage of their first powerplay in the first period after Evgeni Malkin drew an interference call in the offensive zone.  Sergei Mozyakin took the puck at the left point and fed it down to Malkin to the right of the net.  Malkin wasted no time and one-timed it past goalie Maris Yuchers.  The first period would end with 3 more penalties, but no more goals.

The second period started with 4 more penalties as the pace slowed to a crawl.  During a rare moment of 5 on 5 play, Riga simply embarrassed Magnitogorsk by taking the puck into the zone on a 2 on 3 break where both Riga players skated past all 3 defending players for a 2 on 0 chance against Ari Ahonen.  Ahonen was helpless as Kaspars Daugavins tapped in a cross-crease pass to give Riga the 2-1 lead.  More penalties followed as usual and Magnitogorsk used another powerplay to tie the game as Denis Platonov wristed a puck from the slot.  The second period ended with a "fight" featuring Alexandre Giroux and the third period would start with some 3 on 3 play.


The fight resulted in Giroux receiving a 5 minute major and Misharin only receiving a 2 minute minor.  On the ensuing powerplay, Magnitogorsk took the lead when Sergei Mozyakin one-timed a pass from Malkin into the net.  Shortly thereafter, Malkin would draw a hooking penalty as he drove towards the net and Magnitogorsk would score their 4th powerplay goal - Mozyakin from Malkin again.  The plethora of penalty calls would continue and Riga's Mathieu Carle would be sent to the locker room with a 5 minute major and game misconduct for abuse of the officials.  Though Riga made a last minute push despite the penalties, Nikolai Kulemin would finish the scoring with, of course, a powerplay goal assisted by Evgeni Malkin.

Final Score:  Metallurg Magnitogorsk 5  Dynamo Riga 2

Magnitogorsk improves to 10-0-4-3 and Riga drops to 3-3-2-11.

Player Notes

Four point Malkin is a happy Malkin.

Evgeni Malkin - A four point night finally moved Malkin past Cal O'Reilly in the Magnitogorsk scoring race and he now sits second on the team with 17 points in 13 games (behind Mozyakin who has 20 in 15).  In a game filled with frustration on both sides, Malkin stayed composed and only took one penalty for slashing while drawing two for hooking and interference.  He was the key to the powerplay, scoring 1 goal and earning the primary assist on 3 others.  He finished with 4 shots and went 14 for 25 in faceoffs in 21:35 of ice time to go with his 4 points and 2 PIM.

Sergei Gonchar - Though the powerplay was dominant and there was plenty of time with the extra man, Gonchar was nowhere to be seen.  He finished with no points and only one shot on net despite playing 21:44, much of it on the powerplay.  Gonchar didn't need to be flashy as Malkin took control of the powerplay and the game, but it is rare to see him do so little on the powerplay.

Others - Nikolai Kulemin had a quiet game despite his powerplay goal at the end.  Alexandre Giroux, who notoriously avoided contact in his AHL career, played a very physical game and took it all out on Georgi Misharin in their "fight".  Cal O'Reilly and Mats Zuccarello both assisted on Platonov's powerplay goal.  O'Reilly is now tied for 5th in assists (13) in the KHL with Ilya Kovalchuk.  

Next Game:  10/24, 12pm EST @ Donbass

Links:

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